Possible LS
Posted , 8 users are following.
I have been suffering almost constantly for the past two years with problems down below. Itchiness, soreness, difficulties having intercourse. Bleeding after intercourse. I checked myself in a mirror yesterday and noticed angry red blotches and lots of white areas. Also I noticed that a part that was there before was just not there anymore! I am 42 and have not gone through menopause yet. I have recently been diagnosed with another auto immune disease, hypothyroidism. Can anyone give me any advice, does it sound like I might have LS. I've tried antibiotics, canesten cream, emollient washes, emu oil, olive oil, sudacreme, nothing seems to help!
0 likes, 29 replies
marey g30rg313
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marey g30rg313
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i would be very careful with anti-biotics....and what you put on the area has little impact but rather addressing things from the inside might help you. You might find that avoiding gluten offers relief for example.
Morrell1951 g30rg313
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Welcome! Everything you describe sounds like LS. I think if you look around this forum you'll find that yours is a familar story. You should be seeing a gynaecologist ASAP. It's unlikely you'll need a biopsy to confirm LS, since you have white patches. A lot of women here do seem to have other auto-immune disorders. It's not so much that they cause LS, but that some people are disposed to auto-immune disorders.
The standard treatment is the most potent cotricosteroid ointment available. It's the only thing that can penetrate the extremely thick, poor-quality skin of LS to the inflammatory cells in the 'basement' of the skin.
I've had LS my whole 62 years and have had more painful sex and pain after sex than any woman should suffer while being missed by GPs, gynaes and dermatologists all the while. All I can say to you is – good for you that you used a mirror and looked the symptoms up!
If you want a fabulous one-hour crash course, you should think about watching Dr. Andrew Goldstein's presentation. He's a world-leading doctor of 1200 LS patients. I was diagnosed a year ago (finally) by a young gynae, but there are a few things I learned from Dr. G. that are already making a real difference. Don't say, "Oh, no! Not steroids!" until you've heard Dr. Goldstein out. My other thing is psoriasis and I bucked the drugs for a decade after using them for thirty years. No good came of that. I believe in diet and lifestyle and all the good things like cotton panties and no soap, but LS is sometimes quite aggressive. It needs lifelong treatment.
I'm posting a link to the discussion here. The top paragraph contains a link to the lecture. It's audio plus (quite graphic at times) Powerpoint slides (with the pointer often pointing to the wrong thing, so look carefully at the labelled drawings so you know what he's talking about).
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/dr-goldstein-lecture-271556
Hope to hear more from you. Between the group of us here, we're finding better ways to manage LS that we ever would have known without this forum.
g30rg313 Morrell1951
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suzanne00 Morrell1951
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Morrell1951 g30rg313
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Anyway, I posted a new discussion with the main points from the lecture.
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/news-how-to-use-the-corticosteroid-cream-ointment-271601
hanny32508 g30rg313
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marieC g30rg313
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Good luck, at least it's treatable, although not generally curable.
Keep looking on this forum, one day there may be an answer for all of us, at least I hope so.
g30rg313
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sha1271 g30rg313
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I am 42 and was diagnosed at 31. It is possible to have sex again! Not recommended unt you get treatment and get your symptoms under control. Having sex while you have a flare of symptoms will only make things worse. Once things are better use a good lube. I just tried cocunut oil as a lube, AMAZING!
Treatment asap is important. Good luck. And definatatly watch Dr Goldstein.
Shari
marieC g30rg313
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Your boyfriend will need to go gently when you do try for thed first time, as it may be painful and if it is, be prepared to stop, there are other ways to satisfy his needs.
There is a discussion on here about Vit B, Vit E and Zinc. You should have a look, as it could be the answer to both you and your boyfriend's prayers. Don't give up. You may have to wait until your skin is not so sore before you try again, but many of LS sufferers do have intercourse without pain at least some of the time.
suzanne00 g30rg313
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wendy14679 g30rg313
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g30rg313
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Morrell1951 g30rg313
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g30rg313 Morrell1951
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suzanne00 g30rg313
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Morrell1951 g30rg313
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g30rg313 Morrell1951
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marey g30rg313
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